Buddha’s Life and Early Buddhism The spread of Buddhism
Proceed to First Floor. Buddhism is founded on the Buddhism spread from India, through East and Southeast Asia, often travelling teachings of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, a monk and with merchants and scholars who brought the Buddha’s teachings to new teacher who lived in what is now India and Nepal lands. Different regions’ artistic styles show how local communities sometime during the late 6th century B.C.E. Today interpreted the life and teachings of Buddha, developing distinctive strands of Buddhism is the fourth largest religion in the world. Buddhism: Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. These objects from Myanmar are part of the Theravada (Way of the Ancestors).
Stone head, Sarnath (1930.1325 B) Buddha Statue, Myanmar This 5th century AD sculpture was This 18th-century alabaster statue shows Buddha in excavated at Sarnath, a site where what is called ‘bhumisparsa mudra’ or the earth- Buddha once taught. Sarnath’s touching position. A mudra is a position or hand sculptors where hugely influential on gesture that symbolises a deeper meaning. This art and depictions of Buddha in Asia. statue depicts Buddha at the moment of enlightenment.
Votive stupas, Sarnath (1930.1329) Stupas are the main form of Buddhist Attendant Figure, Myanmar (1959.274) monument. One was built at the site This figure came from a Buddhist temple in Myanmar. If you look closely you of Buddha’s death to house his relics. can see traces of original colour. Buddhist art often depicts attendants, who These terracotta votive stupas were are shown attending to Buddha or monks; they may also be Bodhisattvas - left as offerings by pilgrims at people who are on the path to Buddhahood or enlightenment. Buddhist holy sites.
Buddhism in East Asia
Buddhists in East Asia often practice Mahayana Buddhism. However, over such a large area there is incredible diversity in practices, including many well-known schools such as Han Chinese Buddhism and Japanese Zen Buddhism. Folk beliefs and local traditions also affect how people practice.
Look for the Chinese ceramic tiles decorated with Buddhist imagery (1923.16)
and the Japanese portable shrine (1943.56) made for travellers.
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Buddhism in the Himalayas Brass stupa reliquary, Tibet (D 1976.26) This is another miniature stupa, like the Buddhism in Tibet is mostly Vajrayana Buddhism, which means stone and terracotta ones on the second thunderbolt way or vehicle. Tibetan Buddhism has elements of floor. However, this miniature stupa was Buddhism combined with elements of Bon, an indigenous Tibetan used as a reliquary or container for relics religion. For Buddhists, these objects are powerful and sacred. and holds a crystal rosary. The stupa or chorten is the most sacred shape in
Tibetan Buddhism. There are eight different types, and each one represents Prayer wheel, Tibet (1937.468) a different stage in the life of Buddha. Prayer wheels are an important form of worship in Tibetan Buddhism; they contain mantras (sacred sounds or Brass dagger, Tibet (1947.780 A) words) and are spun around. This ritual three-sided dagger is made of brass. The three sides Spinning the wheel is the same represent the three evils to be defeated: ignorance, fear, and as chanting the phrase aloud, desire. and merit is acquired through
this form of worship. This prayer wheel has a lotus bud on top, used to signify purity.
Buddhism in Mongolia and Siberia
Buddhism in Mongolia is similar in many ways to Buddhism in Tibet, but as with Buddhism everywhere there are regional differences in how the religion is practised. Shamanistic and folk religious beliefs and practices are incorporated.
Guru Rinpoche Figure, Sikkim (D 1976.87) Bell and dorje, Mongolia (1974.14) Not illustrated Guru Rinpoche or Padmasambhava, was an extremely important figure in Tibetan The bell and dorje are sacred objects used by monks in prayer Buddhism. He may have brought Buddhism to Tibet from India. This statue comes rituals. The dorje represents a lightning bolt and is shaken in one from Sikkim, which today is part of India, though culturally linked to Tibet, Bhutan hand while the bell, decorated on the handle with the face of a and Nepal. He is depicted holding a skull cup and dorje, similar to others on deity, is rung with the other. display.